Get the Most From Visiting an Alpaca Farm
By Virginia Lyons

If you are considering alpacas as a business investment, then visiting several alpaca ranches in your area is highly recommended. A visit to an alpaca ranch will give you a first-hand exposure to what it takes in physical facilities, operating expenses, time and labor to run a successful operation.

However many people, who are just starting their research into the business of alpaca ranching, don't really know how to make the most of their ranch visit. There have been many times when people visiting my ranch didn't have a clue about what questions to ask me about the business.

To get the most from your ranch visit it's best to know how far along you are in your research. That is, are you a) just starting out, b) read about alpaca ranching and visited a few other ranches, or c) know enough to make a buying decision and pick out the animals you want? Based on which of these categories best fit your situation, here are some guidelines to help you get the most from your visit.

Beginning Researcher
At this point, you should focus on whether alpaca ranching is a good fit for you and your family. There are lots of other businesses in which to invest. If you decide that alpaca ranching is not for you, then your ranch visit was successful. You are free to move on and research another business. However if alpaca ranching is a good fit for you, you'll want to ask questions that give you a realistic estimate of beginning financial investment. The result of answering these questions should be to help you write a five-year business plan.

What is an estimated financial investment in ranch facilities? Will I need to build a barn, loafing sheds, fencing, gates, water lines, electricity, lighting?

How much and what type of acreage will I need? How large and how many separate pastures can I start with? Will I need to clear brush, noxious weeds, certain types of trees from my property?

What types of pasture grasses will I need to plant/or maintain? How much fertilizer will I need to buy each year?

What type and how much food supplements are needed.

What is the average annual vet bill per animal.

What types of livestock insurance are available

More Advanced Researcher
If you have read some books about alpacas and visited other alpaca farms, you are a more advanced researcher. Your focus should be on comparing what different ranches offer. You will have a long term relationship with whomever sells you alpacas. So you need to feel comfortable with those sellers. You'll also want to begin to identify your "alpaca niche." That is, do you want to breed huacayas or suris, a fiber herd or a breeding herd, a large operation or a small operation, and what colors of alpacas. You'll want to ask the following types of questions:

What farm guarantees to they offer on the alpacas that they sell?

What types of mentoring do they offer? Do they provide regular workshops and open ranch days?

Will they help you at shearing time?

Do they offer co-marketing opportunities?

What is their alpaca niche, and why did they pick it?

What are they doing with their fiber? Where do they process and sell their fiber?

Ready to Buy Researcher
At this point you are ready to shop for animals. You should have a good idea about what your beginning business niche will be. You should have already picked out several different breeders with who you feel comfortable. At this ;point, you should ask the following types of questions:

What animals are for sale at a particular ranch? How does the price compare with other ranches that you have visited?

Are there any special package deals that represent good value?

Do the bred females come with a free rebreeding?

What financing terms are available?

Ask to see a copy of the Alpaca Registry Inc, (ARI) registration certificate, a recent fiber analysis histogram, and the sales contract for any animal that you may buy.

How does a particular alpaca measure up to a standard of a good bite, straight legs, and adequate milk supply for breeding females?

Are there any liens, outstanding debts, or other entanglements that would prevent the ARI transfer of ownership into your name?

Virginia Lyons owns Able Oaks Ranch Alpacas in East Texas. She has been breeding and raising elite alpacas and miniature llamas with persistently fine fiber since 2003. Virginia is an experienced weaver and teaches workshops and hosts free events about alpaca ranching, alpaca fiber, and much more.

She sells a 90+ page book, "Get Started Raising Alpacas Guide Book" at http://www.alpaca-ranching.com

Please visit the Able Oaks Ranch Alpacas web site at http://www.ableoaks.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Virginia_Lyons

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